Tegher Monastery stands on the southeastern slopes of Mount Aragats in Armenia, across a gorge from Byurakan. The Church of the Holy Mother of God was built in 1213 and the gavit was finished in 1221. The architect was Vardapet Aghbayrik, who also designed Saghmosavank and Hovhannavank. The patron was Princess Khatun, the wife of Prince Vache I Vachutian.
The church has a cruciform plan and is built of dark gray basalt. It has a semicircular apse and a central drum with a tent-style dome. The gavit has four large columns, a dome with an oculus and corner towers. It holds the graves of Princess Khatun and Prince Vache Vachutian.
The monastery survived the Mongol invasions intact. The ruins of the ninth-century village of Old Tegher lie nearby.
Comments